Tennis Fans--any predictions on Wimbledom????

[joeybee12]

Here are mine:

The men--I think Roger Federer will repeat. Others who have a chance are Tim Henman, and that's about it. I don't put much faith in Andy Roddick any more, and there's really no one out there who can challenge Roger or Tim. I don't think Leyton Hewitt will win, nor will Marat Safin. David Nabaldian might go pretty far. I also think there'll be a couple surprise semi-finalists.

The women--This is even harder to pick. Not sure if the Williams sisters are up to the task. I really hope not. Not sure about Capriati. She didn't choke at the French Open, it was just that Anastaia Mysinka was obviously playing the best tennis on clay during the entire tournament. But she won't win Wimbledom--she doesn't have the game. As for Lindsey Davenport, she won't win--too many people can beat her now. Not sure who to pick. It might be a Williams, but the first few rounds will tell if either has picked up her game, or if we've seen the end of them, and their high seeds are a joke.

[mrboba1]

1. Federer and Serena

clay just isn't the sisters' thing.

Serena will take it again...

ps - Wimbledon with an 'n' not 'm'...

[joeybee12]

9. I was going to edit it, but I said, "F**k it!"

Venus' game definitely is suited for grass, but neither sister inspires fear in their competitors any more. Not sure where Capriati is in the draw, but I think she has Serena's number now.

[sniffa]

2. for the women

i predict this year wiLL have a non-hetero champ.

[Teddy_Salad]

4. Goin' out on a limb there, Sniffa

;)

[sniffa]

5. betting the farm on it

it used to be a safe bet during martina's prime.

[muriel_volestrangler]

35. You know Martina's back in the singles this year?

well, if she could win the mixed doubles last year, it's got to be worth a try ...

[joeybee12]

6. The only one I know for sure is Amelia Mauresemo....

....any others you're predicting?

As for Amelia, I doubt it. She'll never win a big one. I'd liek to see her win one, but it ain't gonna happen!

[sniffa]

10. i'm incLuding in the cLoset pLayers

that widens the fieLd.

[Teddy_Salad]

3. Yeah....I'm backin' The Wombles

I reckon Orinoco has a mighty chance in the singles.

[July]

7. Sounds like you don't like the Williamses.

I think they've been doing pretty well considering their many months off with injuries, and they're both good on grass (Venus -- last four finals, winning the first two). I would have put Venus as top seed. Serena has a better draw on her half, but I think Venus is a little stronger now. I think at least one of them will make the final. If it's not Serena vs. Venus, I'd think a Russian like Kuznetsova or -- maybe -- Sharapova? BTW, the seeds were determined the way they have done in the past (taking into account both injuries and grass court play), and there are few players out there who can claim a stronger grass record than the Williamses (former champion and finalist Lindsay is one who, in my opinion, should have been seeded a little higher). I'd love to see Lindsay win another slam, but my pick is Venus.

Men -- all I see is Federer.

I'm just guessing, of course.

[joeybee12]

11. I'd go with Serena over Venus....I really don't think Venus will ever

win another Grand Slam title.

As for Serena, it's more about the injuries. Venus had a couple good tournaments this year, but her mental game isn't there any more.


No, I don't like them. Don't think they make the game exciting.

[July]

13. I'll take that bet!

I think Venus is back. I think it's too soon to say she won't win any more slams.

Doesn't look like there are many tennis fans here.

[joeybee12]

15. You're right about the few tennis fans here....

...start a baseball thread and you're swamped!

I stand by my Venus/Serena prediction. I'll have to look at the draw closer to see who they meet early on.

[Shrek]

8. I predict

That the women's tournament will feature shot-making, athleticism, good rallies, gamesmanship, strategy, and exciting play.

The men's tournament will be an excruciatingly dull serving contest.

When it comes to tennis, the women produce a much better product than the men, IMO.

[joeybee12]

12. Oooh...risky predictions!

Yeah, with serves at 150 miles an hour, it's not fun watching the guys simply walk from one side of the court to the next.

[Teddy_Salad]

17. Yep....and they have much better legs too

:hi:

[joeybee12]

18. Depends on your point of view...and do you mean Salad as in

"lettuce, tomatoes, cucmbers?"

Watched that episode the other night.

[Teddy_Salad]

LOL!

Take me for walkies, toss me a bone and then I might tell ya. ;) :hi:

[joeybee12]

21. As I watched that, I thoguht that the Pythons should have stuck around

for a few more years. Cleese was out by the fourth season, but it was still good. They could have done a couple more. That and a couple moer movies.

[Teddy_Salad]

36. Yeah but....

like everything else, if they had of kept going they might not have continued to be as funny. Maybe so though. We will never know.

[joeybee12]

37. We'll never know, but I think they could have gone a couple more series

Seems like they were still at their peak. Now when they do specials or inserts for DVDs and try to recreate the same stuff, it doesn't work.

Oh well.................

[mstrsplinter326]

14. I predict....

That I won't be watching it. With andre out, who cares about tennis.

[joeybee12]

16. With Andre out, I can relax and watch wonderful tennis instead

of praying that the twit doesn't win!

Retire already, you buffoon!

[mstrsplinter326]

26. Just because he's old

Doesn't mean he wasn't great. Plus he has possible the world best million dollar smile.

[joeybee12]

27. Never said he wasn't great--just said he was a twit,

an obnoxious, born-again twit. So's his wife.

[mstrsplinter326]

28. fair enough

[LDS Jock]

19. Roddick and Serena

Grass is a great surface for Serena. I think she has it in her, even without playing a lot lately and some uneven results. Roddick? Well, Federer is the obvious choice, but I just hate him. I refuse to pick him, especially when Andy is so much cuter. Plus, I've seen Andy in real life here in Austin. He has my heart, him and Marat Safin. As for Lindsay Davenport, I love her and her game. Gorgeous groundstrokes. No one gave her any chance a few years back playing Steffi in the finals where Lindsay won in straight sets. The odds are against her but I would never count her out.

[joeybee12]

20. Andy really needs to get rid of that beard!

He also needs to dump Mandy Moore!

[GOPisEvil]

22. Uh, they broke up.

At least a month ago - maybe more.

[joeybee12]

23. Good!

I thoguht I heard a rumor about that, but you can never be sure!

[LDS Jock]

24. I'm waiting for his call now

I'm available

[joeybee12]

25. Let me know if he's any good, or if he's been concentrating on

tennis for too long!

I look at him, realize he's cute, but think he's not going to age well.

[SiouxJ]

29. Once again, no Americans in the finals

that's my prediction. Don't know what's up with the Williams sisters. Wish they would get back to kicking ass but without them doing well, I don't see a shot for any Americans. Capriati (or Capi as I like to call her, :-) ), if she does make it to the semi-finals, she'll choke again. She just doesn't do well under pressure for the most part. I'm guessing the Belgian women will prevail (if they are entered).

I don't have any predictions for the men but I think you're right about Roddick.

[joeybee12]

30. No Belgian women in the tourney....

...Clisters will also miss the US Open.

[SiouxJ]

31. Ah, I was wondering

thanks.

[joeybee12]

34. No problem--would have made the women's side more interesting

if they were playing, though.

[LDS Jock]

32. I'm glad Justine is out

I hate that injury faking b****

[joeybee12]

33. Don't hate her, but can't say I like her much...

...I was glad when she beat Serena, and when she was rising, because I think it's good for the game. But I think she's full of shit.

[Awsi Dooger]

38. I'm begging Roger Federer to send me to Athens

The Stardust sportsbook made an incomparable gaffe last week and I was eager to pounce on it. They opened Federer at 5/1 instead of 5/4, which was the recommended odds sent out by Las Vegas Sports Consultants. Apparently, the goofs at the Stardust were unfamiliar with strange, English-style odds like 5/4 and put up 5/1 instead! Virtually every other sportsbook has Federer at 5/4, or +1.25.

I kept betting $99 on Federer at the Stardust during the final game of Piston/Lakers, worried that a limit bet would require approval. I ended up with more than a dozen tickets. The next day I tiptoed into the sportsbook, concerned they might call me to the counter for a chastisement, or even refuse to honor the tickets. Nothing happened, but Federer was "down" to 9/5, still the highest odds in town. I actually loved to see that: the Stardust was slowly adjusting downward but not overreacting, essentially standing by their bloated odds on Federer. I can hedge my wager and still make a sizeable profit if Federer advances deep into the tournament.

Unfortunately, sportsbooks frequently get away with blunders like this. I once got Steffi Graf in the French Open at 5/2 instead of 2/5 at Harrah's, only to have Graf lose to Arancha Sanchez Vacario as a 1/15 favorite in the final.

At least I'm picking off all the Vegas sportsbook screwups now. The betting groups were forced out of business by gaming commision regulations a few years ago and many other guys now wager strictly with offshore sportsbooks.